“Can I Come Back?”

by Atonia and Stacey

Dom made a circle around The Glen checking out the garage, Colin’s car was not there and he thought he might not be driving yet. Might as well get it over with, he pulled out his phone and called Colin pulling over to the side of the road and lighting up a cigarette.

“Hey Colin, Dom here…I’m back.”

"Yeah?" Colin asked, running a hand through his hair.  "And?" He hadn't been pleased when Dom had taken off, left him high and dry without anyone to take up the slack. Luckily for him, Adam had been on hand to step in and help out. He understood the bloke needed some time off, and he was relieved he was back, but fuck if he was gonna let him just waltz back in like nothing had happened.

“Look Colin, I’m sorry about leaving like I did. Sometimes ya just gotta do shit you know? How’s it goin’, still in a cast?” Yeah, okay, Colin was pissed. “I hear ya found some help?” Might as well throw it out there and see if he still had a job or not.

Colin softened a bit, "Yeah, casts still on, had to hire a rookie to fill in. Nice bloke, you'll like him. My brother-in-law, actually. Driving Arthur mental, not taking his shit, ya know?" Colin chuckled.

“Brother- in- law? I didn’t even know you had a sister, but if he ain’t taking shit from Arthur I like him already. I need to bring my car in, carburetor’s not firing right. I played with it some but I ain’t got the tools here. I left mine, you know, at the garage.”  Dom stubbed out his cigarette, “I guess what I’m askin’ Colin is do I still have a job?”

"Adam's bringin' in loads of new customers, business hasn't been better," Colin told him. He was gonna make Dom sweat this one a bit, a little payback for making Colin sweat when he'd left him the way he did. "But he's just a rookie, still got a lot to learn about engine repair. Could use a crack mechanic like yourself around to show him the ropes. Besides, don't want the lad to get bogged down and suddenly go off on holiday on me, do I?"  he chuckled, then added, "What I'm sayin' is, the job's still fuckin' yours if you want it, mate."

Dom hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath, “Thanks Colin I need the job mate. I guess with loads of new customers you must be swamped. Okay if I start back tomorrow?” He had a thought, “Oh and if you don’t mind letting Arthur know I’m back in?”

"No worries, Mate, I've been meaning to have a bit of a chat with the lad anyway. Oh and Dom," Colin told him, grinning, "Welcome back, Mate."